1350

John II becomes King of France

Edward III attacks the Spanish fleet

The Spanish fleet was returning from Sluys where it had stayed over winter. King Edward III had taken his time and prepared an English fleet that could attack the Spanish boats as they came back down the English Channel. The two fleets met off the south coast near Winchelsea. Fierce hand-to-hand fighting took place as the ships, using grappling hooks, came together. Both Edward III and his son the Black Prince took part in the battle and defeated the Spanish.

1351

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Statute of Labourers

Because so many people died from the plague, labour was a scarce resource. To prevent workers demanding their own prices, the costs were fixed for labourer's wages at the pre-plague levels. Labourers had to stay in their own villages, and had to appear before a steward or constable each year to swear to abide by the rules of the statute. Stocks were built in each village to punish and deter any that did not abide by the rules.

1352

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Corpus Christi College founded

Corpus Christi College was founded in Cambridge.

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Innocent VI becomes Pope

Innocent VI becomes Pope.

1354

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Statute of Staples

The Statute of Staples. A law that fixed 15 towns as staple towns. A staple town was a town that was restricted in what it could sell to foreign merchants. The towns were Bristol, Canterbury, Carmarthen, Chichester, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Exeter, Lincoln, London, Newcastle, Norwich, Waterford, Winchester and York.

The Black Prince at Restormel Castle

1355

Bishops of Salisbury regains Sherborne Castle

Robert Wyvil, the Bishop of Salisbury regained control of the castle at Sherborne.

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Carisbrooke Castle passes to Isabel

After the death of Isabella de Fortibus in 1293 Carisbrooke Castle became the property of Edward I and the Crown. In 1355 Edward III granted the ownership of the castle to his daughter Isabel.

Jan 7

Birth of Thomas of Woodstock

Thomas of Woodstock was born to Philippa and Edward III.

Oct

Edward III travels to Calais

Edward III landed in Calais. His plan was to lay waste to the northern lands owned by France.

Oct

The Black Prince starts his chevauchée

Edward the Black Prince set out from Bordeaux at the start of a chevauchée into lands held by King John of France. Chevauchée was a medieval term for a process destroying the towns, villages and land of an enemy lord in an attempt to reduce the wealth that the lord could extract and put to use in going to war. It also caused panic in the local population and an exodus of refugees.

1356

Jan

Edward Balliol gives up Scottish throne

After the defeat of David II of Scotland at Neville's Cross Edward Balliol had attempted to claim the Scottish throne but eventually decided to surrender his title as King of the Scots to Edward III and accept a pension in return.

Sep 17

English and French armies meet

On Saturday 17th of September while the Black Prince was moving his army to English owned city of Bordeaux the English and French armies finally came across each other near Poitiers. Edward moved his army into a defensive position protected by hedges on three sides and a narrow lane on the fourth.

Sep 18

Papal mission

On the Sunday a Cardinal attempted to get the English prince and French king to agree a truce, but the two leaders used the Sunday to rest their troops and prepare for the battle ahead.

Sep 19

Battle of Poitiers

On Monday the 19th of September the battle of Poitiers took place. Even though the English army was outnumbered the Black Prince used superior tactics in the battle and defeated the French without suffering many losses. John, the French King, was captured along with many other French nobles and taken to Bordeaux.

1357

Katla Volcano Eruption

Truce with France

On behalf of the King of England, Edward, the Black Prince arranged a two year truce with John, the King of France at Bordeaux.

Apr

John brought to England

The Black Prince with the French king and many other prisoners began the journey from France to England. Once back in England these nobles were ransomed for large amounts of money.

Oct 3

Treaty of Berwick

The Treaty of Berwick, signed between King Edward III of England and David II of Scotland, allowed David to go free from prison where he had been kept for the previous 11 years. A ransom of 100,000 marks was the price of his freedom.

1358

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The First Treaty of London

This treaty attempted to agree peace between England and France and the release of the French King, John, from captivity. The terms the King Edward III wanted, were a large ransom and the surrender of several French states.

A Splendid Tournament at Windsor

To celebrate St. George's day Edward III held a large tournament at Windsor Castle. Edward, the Black Prince, oversaw the proceedings in which kings and nobles from all over Europe were given safe passage to take part in.

May

A French uprising

Known as the Jacquerie, the French peasants revolt started in the area of Beauvais. It was led by Guillaume Calle.The cause is unknown but this was a terrible time for the poor of the country. With no King, demands for taxes to pay for ransoms and groups of outlaws pillaging the villages it is not surprising that a revolt started. Charles the Bad of Navarre, an enemy of the Dauphin, took it upon himself to deal with the uprising. At Mello, just to the north of Paris, Charles defeated the rebels and set about massacring hundreds of peasants in the area in revenge. An army of several hundred peasants from Paris, under the leadership of Etienne Marcel, advanced on Meaux. The gates of Meaux were opened for them but were attacked by knights from the local fort who killed many and set fire to the town.

Aug 23

Death of Queen Isabella

Queen Isabella, the wife of Edward II and the mother of Edward III died on the 22nd or 23rd of August.

1359

Oct 28

Edward III lands in Calais

Edward and his eldest sons departed from England and arrived in Calais the same day. They met no resistance as they marched to Rhiems. But the town was too well fortified to be captured so the English troops spent their time attacking the local towns and villages and taking supplies.

1360

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Winchester Cathedral West Front

Work began on the West Front of Winchester Cathedral. Extra work was carried out on the North and South aisles

May

Treaty of Bretigny

The Treaty of Bretigny brought a period of peace for nine years during the Hundred Years War. The treaty was arranged between the Black Prince and the dauphin the future King Charles V of France before being approved by King Edward III of England and King John of France. As part of the treaty Edward was given control of the areas of Gascony, Calais and Ponthieu as long as he agreed to give up his claim for the French throne. King John of France, currently being held hostage in England, was to be released on condition of a payment of 3 million gold crowns to be paid in instalments.

1361

Another outbreak of the plague

John of Gaunt owns Kenilworth

John of Gaunt married Blanche, the daughter of Henry, Duke of Lancaster. Henry owned Kenilworth Castle and when he died (?) John became Duke of Lancaster and took ownership of the castle. Gaunt rebuilt the hall and constructed new grand apartments.

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New choir built at York

Under the direction of Archbishop Thoresby the eastern end of the building was extended elongating the choir. The architectural fashion of Decorated Gothic was changing to Perpendicular Gothic as this construction work was undertaken.

1362

John becomes Duke of Lancaster

Urban V becomes Pope

Westminster Abbey Nave

Rebuilding work was begun on the nave and west cloister at Westminster Abbey. The architect in charge of the works was Henry Yevele.

Jan

Hurricane damages spire at Norwich

A fierce storm or hurricane hit Britain and the spire at Norwich Cathedral fell. The spire damaged the presbytery as came down..

Jul

The Black Prince is given Gascony

King Edward III transferred control of Gascony to his eldest son, the Black Prince. Edward the Black Prince had just married Joan of Kent at Windsor and together they created a magnificent court in Bordeaux.

1363

Construction of the Chantry Chapel at Canterbury

The Black Prince organised the construction of the Chantry Chapel at Canterbury Cathedral and he expressed the wish to be buried there.

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Canterbury Black Prince chantry in crypt built

The Black Prince chantry in the crypt of Canterbury cathedral built by John Box.

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Carlisle Cathedral work on the choir

Extra work on the choir at Carlisle Cathedral was carried out between 1363 and 1395.

Nov 23

Conference at Westminster

At a confererence held at Westminster, Edward III of England and David II of Scotland discussed the issues of the non-payment of the ransom agreed upon at the Treaty of Berwick several years earlier. It was agreed that the outstanding amount did not have to be paid if Edward or one of his sons would become King of Scotland after the death of David.

1366

Wykeham becomes Bishop

1367

Jan 6

Birth of Richard (II) the future King of England

Richard of Bordeaux was born at the abbey of St. Andre in Bordeaux in France. His father was Edward, the Black Prince and his mother was Joan, the Fair Maid' of Kent. He was their second son after Edward of Angouleme. Edward died at an early age and so Richard became second in line to the English throne after his father.

Apr

Wykeham becomes Chancellor

William of Wykeham became Chancellor of England.

Apr

Henry (IV) the future king of England is born

Henry was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire. He would become King Henry IV of England.

Apr 3

Battle of Nájera in Spain

Edward the Black Prince went to assist Peter the Cruel, King of Castile, who had been driven from his throne by Henry Trastamara. With a combined army of English, Gascons, Navarrese and Castilians the Black Prince won a battle to put Peter back on the thrown. The victory at Nájera also brought the Castilian fleet under control which had been fighting on the side of the French when Trastamara was in power. Peter was later overthrown and the fleet again started fighting on the French side.

1369

Again England is hit by the plague

Beaudesert Castle passes to Warwick

When Peter de Montfort died, the castle's ownership passed to Thomas, Earl of Warwick.

Jun 3

Edward III restates claim for French throne

The English Parliament freed Edward III from the Treaty of Bretigny that was signed in 1360. When Edward signed the treaty he had agreed to give up the claim for the French throne. Now that Edward was free from the treaty he was able to restate and pursue his claim to be the French King.

1370

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Gregory XI becomes Pope

Aug

The French reclaim Limoges

French forces led by the Duke of Berry retook the town of Limoges.

Sep 18

Limoges falls to the Black Prince

Edward, the Black Prince, used miners to undermine the section of the town that did not surrender to the English. The walls were brought down and those who had not surrendered were executed. This included women and children.

1371

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Wykeham asks for war supplies

William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester and chancellor, asked for supplies for war. Parliament petitioned the king to stop the practice of ecclesiastics having positions of power and not being liable to account for their actions, and that non-clerical laymen should replaced them. An important supporter of this action was John of Gaunt.

Feb

David II dies and is succeeded by Robert II

In Scotland, the Stewart dynasty was begun when Robert II took the Scottish throne after the death of David II.

Qtr 1

Death of Edward of Angouleme

Edward was the first son of the Black Prince, and Joan of Kent. Edward died at an early age of around seven years old. He was second in line to the English throne at the time, The date of his death may have been late in 1370.